Expert: Ali - 9/21/2009

Question
QUESTION: my cat seems to have some sort of extra growth at the bottom of her claw starting from the skin it is painful to touch and she wont let me have a proper look at it. there is no blood, no redness and no heat. i noticed it a couple days after i cut her claws. i clean it out just with some warm water. what should i do now? it is still very sore. thank you

ANSWER: Anita,

In order to properly answer your question and give the best recommendations I need a bit more information from you. If you would be so kind as to answer the questions posted below I'd be happy to help you out to the best of my ability.

- Where precisely is your cat's growth located (tips of the toes, the actual pad, etc)?

- How old is your cat?

- Does your cat go outside unsupervised?

- When was your cat last examined by a qualified veterinarian?

- Does this cat receive annual or more frequent vaccinations?

I look forward to hearing your response so that I can help you and your cat out with this issue.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: my cat is about 4 years old
the growth is kinda at the bottom of the claw where the skin attaches to the claw(it is a fare bit larger than some of her other claws)she has the same kinda growth on her claws but arnt sore
she used to go outside by her self but i changed that now she is an indoor cat(sometimes i take her out to chew on some grass but im with her at all times)
like i said i only noticed it after about a week when i cut her claws (this was not my first time doing it)
my cat just has her annul injections
also are cats claws supposed to chipp off a bit on the side of the claw???

Answer
Anita,

Based on your description it sounds like this kitty should be evaluated by a veterinarian ASAP just to be 100% that nothing growing on those paws or claws is malignant. Our youngest cat has hard horn like growths on some of her toes, but they're not on her claws at all. Any lumps and bumps on a cat should be checked into promptly to ensure their overall safety and reduce the risk that something serious may be going on. It's completely normal for cats to shed thin layers of claw from the sides of each claw when you trim their nails or they scratch on their scratch posts or cat trees so provided that the cat's claws aren't overly soft, raw or infected looking I'd say that all is well.

Based on your answers about the vaccines I'm not entirely sure if you do vaccinate your cat annually for everything, but if you do I would encourage you to go online and check out the newer research about cycling vaccines. Newer studies suggest that we're over-vaccinating our pets and it's causing them some serious health problems. There are a few basic schools of thought when it comes to indoor cats who aren't having direct contact with other cats in your area. You could decide to cycle your vaccines meaning that your cat never receives more than one vaccine at any given time and use the 3 year rabies vaccine which would mean that your cats wouldn't necessarily receive a vaccine each year OR you could decide to stop vaccinating your cat beyond what's required by law in your area. You can vaccinate as recommended when your kitten is old enough to be vaccinated then repeat the booster a year after that OR you can vaccinate properly as a kitten then have a blood titer sent off to the lab to determine what level of immunity your cat has developed to things that we routinely vaccinate our cats against and whether your cat needs further vaccinations at that time. There's some debate within the veterinary community about the role that vaccines play in pets developing auto-immune conditions (their immune system attacks their body), allergies and renal failure. I'm not a qualified vet so I can't really tell you who is right or wrong, in most cases the answer is somewhere in the middle of the debate. It's important to educate yourself so you have the tools to advocate for your feline companion and make the best possible decisions about complex health issues such as to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. I've found myself somewhere in the middle of the whole debate in terms of my beliefs, but if you prefer not to change your current vaccine schedule it might be a good idea to check in with a local holistic vet who uses homeopathy in his/her practice in addition to conventional medicine. There are homeopathic remedies that deal specifically with the negative effects of vaccines which won't cause further harm and may in fact help to keep your little guy healthy and happy. If you have any further questions, concerns or you'd like me to clarify anything please feel free to contact me again and I'll do my absolute best to help you out to the best of my ability.